Spring Training: Zac Veen walks it off as Rockies top White Sox 5-4

Colorado rode a Zac Veen home run in the bottom of the 9th to edge past the White Sox, 5-4.

Colorado pounced on White Sox starter Shane Smith in the first inning as his command deserted him. He plunked two batters and surrendered an RBI double to Willi Castro before Jacob Heatherly came on to record the final out.

There's a spring training rule that allows pitchers to return after being subbed out, and he took advantage of it by pitching a scoreless second inning.

He finished the afternoon with 1.2 innings pitched, three runs (two earned), and one walk.

Rockies free agent signing Michael Lorenzen got the nod for his first appearance in a Rockies uniform, allowing just one hit in a scoreless inning of work.

Rockies No. 3 prospect according to MLB.com, Cole Carrigg, laced an RBI double to center to push Colorado to a two-run lead (4-2) in the seventh in his only at-bat.

Rockies relievers Eiber Castellano and Adam Laskey ran into trouble in the later innings, combining for four innings while allowing seven hits and three runs with two strikeouts.

Then, in the bottom half of the ninth inning, Zac Veen stepped to the plate—an outfielder looking to have a breakout season.

He ended the game on a no-doubt home run to center field, lefty-on-lefty, off White Sox reliever Shane Murphy.

The ball was projected to travel 468 feet.

News and notes from Colorado's 5-4 win over the White Sox

• Rockies right-hander Ryan Feltner returned to a Major League mound for the first time since late April 2025, after dealing with back spasms and a shoulder injury that delayed his rehab. He surrendered back-to-back hits to open his outing but finished the inning strong, allowing just one run and recording a strikeout.

• Rockies free agent signing Willi Castro had a stellar performance, going 2-for-2 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored.

• Rockies reliever Keegan Thompson, who came over from the Chicago Cubs in the offseason, pitched two scoreless innings, giving up just one hit while striking out three.

• Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar went 1-for-3 with a run scored as he ramps up his preparation for the World Baseball Classic.

The Rockies are back in action tomorrow afternoon as they host the Los Angeles Angels at 1:10 pm MST, with Chase Dollander expected to take the hill.